GE Crop Study

Nitrogen fertilizers are a miracle of modern agriculture — their application increases crop yields which help feed an expanding global population. But there is downside to the use of nitrogen fertilizers: they require intense amounts of energy to produce; nitrogen runoff is a major source of pollution; and nitrogen is an expensive, often inaccessible input for smallholder farmers around the world.

Africa is a drought-prone continent, making farming risky for millions of smallholder farmers who rely on rainfall to water their crops. Maize is the most widely grown staple crop in Africa – more than 300 million Africans depend on it as their main food source – and it is severely affected by frequent drought.

Tanzania’s first-ever GMO field trial could hold hope for drought-stricken small-holder farmers in Tanzania. But first it must go through a strict testing and regulatory process. Mark Lynas and Hannah Smith Walker visited the confined field trial to capture this behind-the-scenes account of public interest science as it unfolds in sub-Saharan Africa.

Upon reviewing the major headlines over the last year, as well as our own work at the Alliance for Science, it becomes very clear that 2016 has been an exciting year for global biotechnology. A number of published studies, government rulings, and other events have made front-page news worldwide.

While genetically modified crops have achieved significant environmental benefits, decreased insecticide use and boosted profits for farmers in adopting countries, critics counter that they have failed to deliver on promises of increasing yield.

Is there a scientific consensus about genetically modified organisms and health? Participate in our study and help us find out! We are examining more than 12,000 abstracts (1996-2015) available from Web of Science, one of the largest aggregators of published information in the sciences. Contact jat264[at]cornell.edu for more information.